Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadīyah, Vol. 1, p. 365
What is the ruling on replying to salām during prayer? Also, if a congregation is established in the masjid, can someone say “al-salāmu ʿalaykum” aloud?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
◈ If a person is praying, it is not permissible for him to reply verbally to salām.
◈ However, it is permissible to reply with a gesture, specifically with one finger, as established from the Sunnah.
From Ṣuhayb (رضي الله عنه), a companion of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:
عَنْ صُهَيْبٍ صَاحِبِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «مَرَرْتُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ، فَرَدَّ عَلَيَّ إِشَارَةً، وَلَا أَعْلَمُ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ قَالَ بِإِصْبَعِهِ»
(Sunan al-Nasāʾī, Bāb Radd al-Salām bi-l-Ishārah fī al-Ṣalāh, 1/140)
Translation:
Ṣuhayb (رضي الله عنه) said: “I passed by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ while he was praying. I gave salām to him, and he replied with a gesture, and I think he gestured with his finger.”
✔ A person praying must not reply verbally to salām.
✔ Replying with a gesture of one finger is proven from the Sunnah.
هٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
Question:
What is the ruling on replying to salām during prayer? Also, if a congregation is established in the masjid, can someone say “al-salāmu ʿalaykum” aloud?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
◈ If a person is praying, it is not permissible for him to reply verbally to salām.
◈ However, it is permissible to reply with a gesture, specifically with one finger, as established from the Sunnah.
Ḥadīth Evidence
From Ṣuhayb (رضي الله عنه), a companion of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:
عَنْ صُهَيْبٍ صَاحِبِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «مَرَرْتُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ، فَرَدَّ عَلَيَّ إِشَارَةً، وَلَا أَعْلَمُ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ قَالَ بِإِصْبَعِهِ»
(Sunan al-Nasāʾī, Bāb Radd al-Salām bi-l-Ishārah fī al-Ṣalāh, 1/140)
Translation:
Ṣuhayb (رضي الله عنه) said: “I passed by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ while he was praying. I gave salām to him, and he replied with a gesture, and I think he gestured with his finger.”
Summary of the Ruling
✔ A person praying must not reply verbally to salām.
✔ Replying with a gesture of one finger is proven from the Sunnah.
هٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
